Each cell paraphrases what the candidate says they will do, from their own campaign materials, questionnaires, or interviews. Rows are shared issue categories; only categories at least one candidate addressed are shown.
Issue
Elaine Davis Republican
Bryan Goldberg Democratic
Taxes & spending
Sponsored a bill to exempt groceries from the state sales tax.[1]
Eliminate the state sales tax on groceries, temporarily cut the gas tax, and create a refundable child tax credit for middle- and lower-income families.[2][3]
Cost of living & housing
No stated position
Require cost-of-living impact statements for major legislation, create a Tennessee Family Budget Index, eliminate junk fees, and allow more housing and child care by reducing zoning and permitting delays.[2]
Education
Sponsored a bill to require free menstrual hygiene products in public high schools.[4]
Oppose vouchers, fully fund public schools and support teachers, review how testing serves students, and create universal pre-K.[2]
Health care
No stated position
Expand Medicaid to bring federal dollars back to Tennessee and help keep rural hospitals open.[2]
Public safety & justice
Sponsored a bill creating the offense of aggravated domestic assault (Katherine's Law) and co-sponsored a 2025 law making it a crime to impersonate a taxi or ride-share driver.[5][6][7]
No stated position
Infrastructure & energy
No stated position
Relieve congestion on corridors such as Pellissippi Parkway, I-40 and Alcoa Highway, and require transportation impact assessments for major developments.[2]
Firearms
No stated position
Again require handgun carriers to pass a basic permit class.[2]
Abortion
No stated position
Restore a woman's right to make reproductive decisions with her doctor, without government interference.[2]
Government & elections
Sponsored laws requiring local governing bodies to hold a public comment period at meetings and requiring that city council district members be elected only by voters who live in the district.[8][9][10]
State representative for District 18 since November 2022; House member of the 113th and 114th General Assemblies.[11][12][13]
Vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee; also serves on the Transportation, Ethics, and Private Acts committees and the Civil Justice Subcommittee.[12]
B.A. in psychology and criminal justice from the University of Tennessee (1997); Farragut High School graduate.[11][12]
Previously owned Smoky Spots and worked as a morning show co-host on Knoxville's Morning News and as an account executive.[11]
Former vice chair of the Knox County Republican Party.[11][12]
Why they're running
Her campaign says she has been an advocate for infrastructure, public safety, education, health care, low taxes, election integrity, job creation and lowering the cost of doing business.[10]
Platform
Taxes & spending
Sponsored a bill to exempt groceries from the state sales tax.[1]
Education
Sponsored a bill to require free menstrual hygiene products in public high schools.[4]
Public safety & justice
Sponsored a bill creating the offense of aggravated domestic assault (Katherine's Law) and co-sponsored a 2025 law making it a crime to impersonate a taxi or ride-share driver.[5][6][7]
Government & elections
Sponsored laws requiring local governing bodies to hold a public comment period at meetings and requiring that city council district members be elected only by voters who live in the district.[8][9][10]
Arguments
Arguments for
She secured $50,000 in state funding for a nonprofit that supplies feminine hygiene products to schools across East Tennessee, helping keep girls in class.[14]
She has passed laws guaranteeing residents a chance to speak at local government meetings and ensuring city council district members are chosen by the voters in their own districts.[8][9][10]
Arguments against
She co-sponsored a bill to close primaries to voters not registered with a party. Critics say its 90-day deadline for switching parties would have fallen before candidates even filed, forcing voters to commit without knowing who would be on the ballot, and that it would shut many voters out of the primary that effectively decides who holds office.[15][16]
General manager of the Knoxville office of BELFOR Property Restoration for 16 years.[3][17]
Swam for the University of Tennessee on scholarship, was an All-American, and made the USA National Team; later coached swimming at Halls High and Middle School for eight years.[17]
President of the Knoxville Jewish Alliance from 2020 to 2024; member of Leadership Knoxville's 2022 class.[17]
Ran for this seat in 2024 and lost to Elaine Davis, 53.8% to 46.2%.[18]
Why they're running
He says he is running to represent the entire community and is willing to sit down and listen to District 18's residents, making decisions based on the common good. He says his focus is lowering the cost of living without raising taxes, and that as a father of two public school students he is running so public education is invested in, not abandoned.[2][17]
Platform
Taxes & spending
Eliminate the state sales tax on groceries, temporarily cut the gas tax, and create a refundable child tax credit for middle- and lower-income families.[2][3]
Cost of living & housing
Require cost-of-living impact statements for major legislation, create a Tennessee Family Budget Index, eliminate junk fees, and allow more housing and child care by reducing zoning and permitting delays.[2]
Education
Oppose vouchers, fully fund public schools and support teachers, review how testing serves students, and create universal pre-K.[2]
Health care
Expand Medicaid to bring federal dollars back to Tennessee and help keep rural hospitals open.[2]
Infrastructure & energy
Relieve congestion on corridors such as Pellissippi Parkway, I-40 and Alcoa Highway, and require transportation impact assessments for major developments.[2]
Firearms
Again require handgun carriers to pass a basic permit class.[2]
Abortion
Restore a woman's right to make reproductive decisions with her doctor, without government interference.[2]
Arguments
Arguments for
Sixteen years managing a disaster-restoration team and four years leading a community organization have given him experience listening to people and making decisions for the common good.[17]
He has proposed a plan to lower everyday costs, from grocery tax relief to cost-of-living reviews of new laws, without raising taxes.[2]
Arguments against
No published arguments found (checked October 13, 2026).
Sources (18)
Listed in numeric order. Numbers match the markers in the text above.